glory and the presence of God and in respect of the rest unto whom it continueth shutt untill the appointed time Scholions 1 And I saw an other signe These wordes are used in sted of a passage to an other matter wherby this prophesie following is distinguished from that which was erst explayned in the three former chapters And now remayneth the third and last period divided from the former by the kind of events which therfore have a new instrument of vials but yet agreing with them in as much as it is a part of the seventh trumpet as may easily appear by the things spoken before For the Tabernacle in heaven is not opened before the seventh trumpet chap. 11.15.19 But the Ministers of this work which have charge given them to power out the vials doo come out of the Temple opened in heaven as after in the 5. and 6. verses of this chapter Moreover the Angel foretold that the ende should come when the seventh trumpet sounded chap. 10.7 Now these seven vials doe bring the end with them their Ministers being sayd in this verse to have the seven last plagues and therfore they necessarily belong to that trompet For if the first vial answered to the first trompet and then the rest in order so as every one should be of the same time that the trōpet is wherewith it is ioyned there were no reason why they should be called the last plagues But the thing is not so especially seing the first vial brings evil on the men which were branded with the Beasts mark chap. 16.1 which mark we have seen to be the invention not of the first Beast but of the second chap. 13.16 whose birth days fell out under the fift trompet Wheras by this reason the mark should necessarily goe before al the trompets the first whereof should not so much imprint the mark it selfe as afflict the men on whom it was already printed Moreover the Saincts triumphe is sung in this chapter for the victory gotten of the Beast before the vials are powred out or the Angels take their work in hand ver 2. c. But the Beast dyeth not under the first trompet but is then born and from thence forth flourisheth until the harvest and vintage chap. 14. and the two Prophets rise up from the dead chap. 11.11 which things fel out about the end of the sixt trompet as we have shewed Yea but there is a great similitude between the trompets the vials there is in deed but to this ende onely that we may know how men ar punished in the same degrees and steps that they have sinned Yet they differ both in time and in manner of punishment for the vials are onely punishments wheras the trompets be offenses It is therfore manifest that the whole distance of time from Iohn to the coming of our Lord is divided into three periods and every of them agayn into seven more particular seasons or articles so as under the last of that which went before beginneth the first of that which foloweth that is to say as from the last seal doo arise the seven tronpets so from the last trompet doo arise the seven vials Which distribution of the time maketh this prophesie easy unto us which ells would be very intricate ¶ In heaven That is in the purer Church For as of olde the Lord was wont to rore out of Sion and give his voice out of Ierusalem Amos 1.2 so the evil by which al his enemies now shall utterly perish shal come out of his holy Church wherin he wil shew himselfe an avenger in punishing al the reprobats And great and marvelous is this signe because of the wonderful change of the course of things the Beast and Dragon being overcome and abolished and th' eternal happines of the Church procured as we shal see in the things particularly to be handled ¶ Seven Angels According to the manner of the former periods These be men citizens of the purer Church as appeareth by the place from whēce they come and their attire of which hereafter Theod. Beza expresseth it thus the seven Angels but ther is no article in the Greek neyther were these eyther seen or mentioned before the temple was opened They are sayd to have the seven last plagues because when these are doon ther shal be happy times onely until the end of al things be come as the next words shew For they are not caled the last as if they should come a little before the ende but because by them Gods wrath shal be fulfilled in abolishing the enemies and tempests of the Church They have their beginning togither with the seventh trompet about the yere 1560. in respect of which we say they are to come and not in respect of this time onely wherin we now live And he sayth the wrath is fulfilled in sted of shal be fulfilled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for the certainty of the Prophesie maketh him to speak in the time past of things that are to come 2 And I saw as it were a glassy sea mingled with fire Hitherto generally of things to be doon and the Ministers of them now foloweth the estate of the holy Church in the mean while The Church is described by the things or substance of it and the persons The first is a sea that is doctrine as before the divers manner whereof maketh also a divers sea The one heavenly like that in chap. 4.6 which also was glassy and like to Crystal the other earthly turned into blood and void of al purity chap. 8. Here we have a third heavenly also as the former verse sheweth for this signe was seen in heaven and glassy as the first was with which it wholly agreeth in nature however ther be some litle difference in quality For in sted of that Crystal here fire is mingled a glassy sea saith he mixt with fire That therfore was clear as glasse and most simple without al colour as Crystal is this also is clear as glass but coloured with fyrie rednes not shining with the simplicity of Crystall And what other thing doth fyre signify than fervent strifes cōtentions burning with hatred I am come to send fire on the earth sayth Christ and what is my desire if it be already kindled Luk 12.49 This inseparable cōpanion must the heavenly truth of the last period have ioyned with it the doctrine should be glassy and clear through which we may behold the gracious countenance of the Father in Christ Iesus yet not in al respects pure as Crystal but coloured with the fyre of contention Which thing verily all godly men to their great greif doo find at this day too true That unhappy strife about sacramental signes how great sturres wrought it in the Church which yet had not ynough it selfe alone to trouble all things but it must bring forth also as an evil bird an evil egg that unheard monster of Vbiquitie The sparks hereof were
this mountaine called great and hie which is set in the highest toppe and height of other mountaines Therfore whatsoever excelleth in dignity on earth the excellency of this Church shall passe it In this mountaine shal be seen the beauty of this city as if her cityzens dwelling within the walles should pereeive most plainly her reverend and divine worthines which cannot be so manifest to them that dwel farther off in remote countreyes And many Iohns that is godly and holy men leaving their places of abode shal flee unto this mountaine not that being superstitious they may visit holy places but that face to face they may behold the glory of the Lord and enioy being present the gladnesse of the saints For can any thing be more longed for then to be conversant with them which shal worship Christ most purely and most holily according to his ordinance alone and with most fervent affections It shal be certenly an excellent patterne of our felowship with the holy Angels But it is sufficient to touch these things in a word least I may seeme to some men to delight my selfe with a sweet dreame But let us observe that if these things should be spoken of the saints countrey after the last iudgement no Olypus would be high ynough to shewe it manifestly 11 And he shewed mee that great city This city is great and most ful of citizens hitherto it hath bin alwayes contained within a smal number of men now first of al called great her boundes being inlarged and increased with a ful multitude It shal be farre more glorious in this respect seing that the more common good surmounteth it selfe But beside these shee is holy and commeth downe out of heaven from God Of which things we have seen before This is a new thing that shee is adorned with the glory of God that is that shee hath the presence of God manifested in her by a certaine glorious beauty as it is declared in those things that follow To this ende the temple before was filled with smoke after the old manner of appearing in the tabernacle and temple but now there shal be an other way God shal give a more cleare shew of his maiesty then ever before this time either with the Iewes or Christian Gentils Moreover also it hath a light which is like to a stone most pretious c. What is this light Not any brightnesse with which the city shineth by her owne purity although of it selfe it shal be most beautiful but a light which is conveyed into it from an other For so Phoster signifieth to weet such a thing as sendeth forth light from it selfe as the Sunne Moone Starres candle torch the like Therfore the Grecians translate these wrds of Gen. 1 16. tous duo Phosteras tous megalous those two great lights And also Paul Phainesthe hos Phosteres shine yee as starres Phil. 2.15 Therfore the Phoster of the city is that which giveth light to the city the which light shee draweth frō an other and hath it not naturally From whence then is it ministred From the very glory of God for these thinges depend on the next before going as though he should say I sawe the City having the glory of God which glory of God being the light of it was like a stone most pretious c. which interpretation is affoarded by the 23 verse after where the office of lighting the city is given to the glory of GOD. But why is this light like to a stone most pretious and not rather like to the Sunne or Starres Because perhaps the light of the Sunne doth burne and blindeth the eyes rather more agreable with an overthwart looking upon it then a direct The shinning of the stone is altogither harmelesse very much grateful and pleasant yee the more that one looketh upon it the more agreable it is in which respect it representeth most excellently the pleasantnesse of the divine knowledge For the nature of this is to recreate and cherish the fainting soule even with the onely sight of her beauty but yet much more if any with a serious contemplation doth fixe the eyes of his minde upon her The light and glorious brightnesse of al other thing as of the Moone and of the Starres is overwhelmed by the bright-shining beames of a greater light The brightnesse of a stone compareth with the sunne neither is diminished but increased by the beame therof even as there is not any glory so great that can darken the glorious maiesty of God The things which are lightsome with us as torches lampes candles alwayes stand in need of some matter wherwith fire is kept burning otherweise they would be turned by and by into darkenesse the sparkling brightnesse of a stone is naturaly ingendred in it which hath no need of any outward helpe but shineth alway by his owne flame so as it representeth before our eyes the eternal light of the most High God in this respect also But the Kind of stone is also expressed For it is like a Iasper stone cleare as Chrystall The Iasper is a most noble Iewel both for antiquity and for variety The likenesse to cleare shining Chrystal describeth a certain kind of it which shineth through most purely darkened with no colour Therfore the Iasper like Chrystal is that kind of Iasper which is commonly called Aerizula resembling the most cleare ayre Here it noteth the most excellent glory of God shining in this city which no spot of earthly filthinesse doo make darke as it is wont to come to passe where any humane invention is patched to Gods ordinances 12 Jt had beside a wall Now he expoundeth the matter particularly first the things which belong to the forme of the wall which is great and hie that is long broad and hie firme on every part The description wherof had bin superfluous if it should belong to the heavenly city to be expected after the last iudgemēt which al know wel inough to be set free from al danger But the celestial Hierusalem on earth which we have seen tossed with very many stormes from her first beginning even unto this day hath had need of this defence and fortification of walles least any should feare the same thing touching this city which he knoweth to hav happened to the same in former times But this forme hitherto belōgeth to the whole wall The parts are the gates and foundations The gates ar notable for their number the watch the names written upon them in this verse then for their most cōmodious situation in the thirteenth verse which al ar so described that they may declare a most ready way into this city which no impediment shal hinder Hereunto first of al the twelve gates have respect that an entrance be prepared for every tribe apart to to the ende that it may be more free and ready For the same purpose are the twelve Angels being the watch who doo waite at the gates to open them and to
he reproveth also Kings for their sakes saying touch not myne annointed and doe my Prophets noe harme Psalm 105.14.15 For the Lord shall roare out of Zion and his voyce out of Ierusalem Amos 1.2 Why thē is not the world wise at last when it seeth that this is the fountaine of all evills because it doth entreate so contemptuously and unworthyly the Church And the lightnings and terrible thunders doe signify punishments and not to be avoided by any meanes as which doe fall violently upō men from heaven But to what ende are voyces added Surely voices doe note out often times the craking of thunders as Exod. 19.16 And there were voices and lightnings and a thicke cloude upon the mount and the voyce of a trumpet very lowde So in chap. 20.18 And all the people did perceive the voyces and the voice of a trumpet But seeing in this place there is expresse mention of thunders the voices are referred to some other thinge namely to the sounde of the trumpet For he doth allude unto that fearfull sound of the trumpet in giving of the lawe wherby the Israelites were summoned to appeare at the Tribunall seat and iudgement The sounde whereof when it continued and waxed very stronge Moses sayd I doe feare and quake Exod. 19.19 Heb. 12.21 For the expectation of iudgement did more abash and trouble their minde then the present horrour of some terrible spectacle the feare of which the minde can susteine in some sorte unlesse it be troubled with the conscience of sinne when it shall be cast downe with the feeling of this it quaketh at every shewe of evill as if torments were prepared and by and by to be undergone The voices then here are some strange things betokening some evill to come or stinges of conscience with which the mindes are allwayes tormented with expectation of some more grievous thing to come This feare shal be as a torture to the wicked tearing and vexing with greater torment of minde then any present though grievous calamity Such then are the weapons which are layd up in this armory which in deede are drawne out and brought forth in a readines for taking of vengeance even as the use either of the whole Church or the necessity of any of the saints privatly doth require Wherfore there is no caufe why they should feare the wicked world for whose defense so grievous punishments are prepared ¶ And seaven lampes of fyre After the grace of protection are declared the giftes of sanctification of which the inward are signifyed by the seaven burning lampes after the account of the seaven spirits which are before the throne chap. 1.4 For by the flame of these those lampes doe burne with that difference onely wherby the river differreth from the fountayne The which thinge the lampes doe signify vessels of a certen and limitted measure whereas the Spirit himselfe is unmeasurable and cannot be included in any straight vessels For which cause he was before most free not limited by any addition of any measurable quantity where mention was made of him as of the third person of equall glory and maiesty with the Father and the Sonne chap. 1.4 And these lampes are called the seven spirits of God both because they are gifts that flowe from the Spirit and also there is a most straite ioyning togither of the effect with his cause For they be most sweete fruites which the Spirit created in the hearts of the saincts in giving them faith hope charity peace ioye praye and the other things with which the elect are sanctifyed They are likened to lampes of fyre according to the custome of the lightes in the Temple which were to be lighted every day of Aaron and his sonnes Exod. 27.20 For the Spirit will have them to be kindled in the hartes of the elect by the labour of the Ministers through the worde and sacraments and not to be expected contrary to the order delivered to us of himselfe There is the number of seaven because of the manifold varietie of giftes wherewith he adorneth the faithfull as every where that number is used to note an infinite number Last of all these giftes are compared to fyre for the lampes are of fyre burning before the throne because they inlighten the minde burne up the stubble of the inbread corruption and kindle a desyre of all godlines which Iohn calleth the Babptisme of fyre Mat. 3.11 And howe great confort ariseth from thence that the name of the Spirit himselfe is attributed to those giftes Which are saith he the seaven Spirits of God From which the faithfull may understand that that force which they feele in their hearts raysed up of God is a most sure pledge of God dwelling in them Such then are the inward giftes of which the Church shall never be destitute but some congregation of the Godly shal be remayning alwayes in which those seaven lampes shall burne 6 There was also before the Throne a Sea of glasse The first outward gift which serveth for those inward as the instrumentall cause is the Sea of glasse which seemeth to be some very great vessell and huge lake after the likenes once of the Sea in the Temple of which 1 King 7 23. Likewise he made a molten Sea This Sea is to be understood of such a vessell For howe can that which is before the Throne compassed with a company of Elders standing rounde aboute be spred abroad on every side like the sea properly so called The circuite in deede of the Elders may extende so farre as the compasse of the earth yet it behoveth us to remember that the thinge was shewed to Iohn in a type that wee should not thinke of any such unmeasurable space Both the name and the largenesse of the vessell doe shewe the fulnes of all giftes which the Church doth drawe from Christ unto her salvation who received the Spirit without measure and from whose infinite riches it is bestowed upō us Iohn chap. first ver 16. For to what ende otherwise was there so bigge a vessell at which Aaron and his sonnes should wash their handes and their feete For cleansing whereof some small pitcher or cruse would had sufficed And in deede this Sea sheweth very fitly a certen resemblance of the whole outward worship which is to be performed to God The doctrine often time is compared unto waters Hoe saith Isaiah whosoever thirsteth come yee to those waters For the carrying away of which he commendeth no other buckets to be brought then the eares Jnclyne your eare saith he chap. 55.1.3 From whence the Ministers are called waterers 1 Cor. 3.6 Baptisme also is signifyed by the Sea through which the Fathers passed and were all baptised unto Moses in the cloude and in the Sea 1 Cor. 10.1.2 Furthermore the water noteth the spirituall drinke of the holy Supper And all sayth he dranke the same spirituall drinke ver 4. By the same also prayers are signifyed as the Israelites being
of the Iewes the which other scriptures shewe that it shall surely come to passe before that there be an ende of the whole frame of the world Neither in examining every minute of the seventh trumpet shall wee finde that the Revelation goeth any further then to the restauration of this people as with Gods helpe wee shall make it apparant in his fit place Which restoring doublesse may well be called a mystery because it is so farre removed from all humane uÌ„derstanding of which there is almost noe hope in them to whom the very benefit perteineth as in many places the Prophets shew Why speaketh the Lord by Isaiah should thou say o Jacob and speake O Israell my way is hid froÌ„ the Lord and my cause is passed over of my God chap. 40.27 And againe Yf so be that Sion saith the Lord hath forsaken mee and my Lord hath forgotten mee chap. 49.14 Therefore I suppose that this calling of the Iewes is this mystery Doubtlesse it is sure that in the time of this trumpet the last ende shall be put to all thinges and therefore wee shall finde noe such conclusion of the seventh trumpet the third woe is past as of the fift one woe is past chap. 9.12 likewise of the sixt chap 11.14 for the Revelation leadeth not thither because neither perteineth it to us to knowe neither is it to be imperted to any creature which the sonne himselfe knewe not as farre as he was a maÌ„ Marc. 13.32 ¶ As he hath declared to his servants the Prophets To whom this mystery was revealed plenteously but which is not understood of our expositours wherby it cometh to passe that the things which the Prophets foreshewe to come the common sort so interpret as if they were past Moses in his most famous songe about the ende singeth this Mysterie Deut. 32. David every wherein the Psalmes So Isaiah Ieremiah Ezechiell and the rest it would be too long even to recken the places Learned men wil be content with this bare disclosing whom it is sufficient to admonish even in one worde that they would seeke another meaning of many places in the Prophets then hitherto they have followed in their expositions If these things are to be understood of the last comming of Christ to iudgement there are not very many words or at the least cleare enough in the Prophets touching this thing But froÌ„ hence wee learne that the old prophecies are not to be finished either in the first comming of Christ or in the calling of the Gentiles but that they reach even unto the perfit accomplishing of the Mistery Wherefore they that doe restraine them into the narrowe straightes of the calling of the Gentiles stoppe up to themselves the way to understand them and take away much comfort from the Church 8 Goe thy waye and take the little booke An other thing to be communicated is Prophecy restored againe to the Church For this commandement sheweth what should come to passe to the Ministers of the word in the times of this sixt trumpet Iohn himselfe for his part seemeth before nowe to have ben furnished sufficiently for the receaving of the Revelâ—tion both by those thinges which he sawe and heard and also endued with the inspiration of the Spirit extraordinarily And if the passing from one matter to an other had ben set forth onely for to teach he would have used the same in their fit places in the rest of the treatise Wherefore I doubt not but that here a type is set forth of the Ministers of that time as in many places elsewhere Iohn representeth the faithfull Therefore as here the booke being received from the Angell and eaten up he should play the Prophet againe so about these times should be raised up faithfull Ministers which should declare the trueth to the world Wee made mention that some godly men about the time that the Turkish tyrannie beganne and the feet of the Angell set upon the Sea the Earth arose forthwith who undertooke boldly the charge of prophecying Which was a notable benefit of God this office had ben banished a long time from the earth put to flight by the hellish smoke which the bottomelesse pit opened by the Romish Starre sent forth nowe it came againe by the grace of God and men were bidden to take the little booke open which the former times had shutte the force of which commandement raised up those which I spake of and many others which followed whom unlesse an heaveÌ„ly desire had inflamed they would not have offerred their lives to so many daÌ„gers which necessarily were to be undergone in so great envie hatred almost of all men But from this coÌ„mandement wee draw this coÌ„mon sentence that men are slow loath to take the paines to Prophecy not otherwise to settle themselves to this office except they be stirred forward of God 9 Therefore I went unto the Angell saying to him give mee the little booke This gifte is to be obtained by intreatie even also of them who have abilitie giveÌ„ them thereunto Wee must desire earnestly of God with Iohn that he will give us the little booke albeit wee be nowe entred into this office And the little booke is given when greater abondance of knowledge is ministred which was most excelleÌ„t in this age now first of all the art of printing bookes being found out by a great gift of God But further these things declare that the men of that time being awaked once of God from their drowsines shall greatlie endevour to profit more in the kindled trueth And surely their industry was notable and their increase in all kinde of knowledg chiefly of divinity so swift that thou mayest say not without cause that they had not so much read as devoured the bookes After Wickliefe the barbarousnes of the Scholastiques being reiected the liberall artes were revived through so happie aboundance of most famous witters that there is none but he must coÌ„fesse that to be the time of devouring bookes ¶ And it shall make thy belly bitter The word tasted in the mouth is sweet but bitter in the bellie that is the knowledge of Gods will is verie sweete pleasant of it selfe but the publishing of it wherby fruite may come to the rest of the meÌ„bers even like the digestion of meate when it is concocted in the stomake is full of troubles and anguish Which thing sometime Ieremy tryed and complained of chap. 15.16 Likewise Ezechiell chap. 3.3 And all none excepted who have runne togither in this race but those newe champions especially I meane of this time To whom doubtlesse the word was so much the sweeter by howe much they came with a more sounde hunger to wit having ben stollen away from the world for some ages and nowe first againe restored by the favour of God whore Ambassage contrariwise was so much the more bitter by how much men were plunged in more thicke darkenesse whom because of the long custome of
that AlexaÌ„der himselfe never boasted of any such wonder in his Epistles Arianus writeth that usually ther is no way to passe through the sea neer Phaselis but when the North winds blow which blew vehemently when Alexander went that way that they seemed not without Gods power to have yeilded them an easy passage But Strabo book 14 writeth most playnly that the soldiers traveiled al the day even up to the navel in the waters So then Alexander passed through the waters that were shollow and not quite dryed up Neyther doo I think can it be found in any record that such a thing did ever happen to any other people then the Iewes The vanity of writers may feign many things but the Scriptures doo challenge this as peculiar to this nation onely I will say sayth God to the deep be dry and I wil dry up thy flouds Isa 44.27 And againe Art not thou the same which dryed up the sea even the waters of the great deep making the deeps of the Sea to be a way for the redeemed to passe over Isa 51.10 And least some should thinke this miracle was onely for the time passt and not such to be looked for ever after he addeth in the next verse So the redeemed of the Lord shal returne and come with joy into Sion c. And in Isa 63.11 where should he be that brought these up out of the sea with the shepheard of his flock which cleft the waters for thâ—se to make himselfe an everlasting name which led these through the deepe as an horse in the wildernes so that they stumbled not It is no marvel therfore if the peculiar note ensigne of this nation onely be putt for the men themselves But what need there a way to be prepared for them Shal they returne agayn to IerusaleÌ„ Ther is nothing more sure the Prophets playnly confirme it and beat often upon it Yet not to the end that the ceremonial worship should be restored but that the mercy of God may shine unto al the world in giving to a nation now scatered over al the face of the earth dwelling no where but by leave their fathers habitations wherin they shal serve Christ purely and sincerely according to his owne ordinance onely A thing of old commonly spoken of by the ancient Iewes which they understood by the Prophets although but narrowly and through the lattisse Wherupon it was berayed with old wives fables both in ages past and so is now at this day The feighned Esdras saw some sparkles of this truth which he overwhelmed with so many and great fictions that he had need be a wary and attentive reader and one of no mean judgement that would gather gold out of that confused heap They entred in saith he speaking of the ten tribes that were led captives at the narrow passages of the river Euphrates for the most high then shewed them signes and stayed the springs of the river til they were passed over 4. Esdras 13.43.44 A Iewish fable but neerer to the truth is that which there foloweth ver 47. The most high shal hold stil the springs of the river agayn that they may goe through c. which agreeth with this place may both of them be understood metaphorically though nothing letteth why it may not please God agayn to shew his ancient power of drying waters up extraordinarily Seing therfore it is certayn that this nation shal earnestly flock unto the Gospel and that in the last times as Paul teacheth Rom. 11.25 and the last period of things is of the vials it is not likely that such a wonderful matter should have no mention at al in this clear Prophesie unto which also here is added the proper ensigne of this nation for whose onely sake both sea river as we read were dried up I am not altogither unadvised in supposing that this is the onely matter here in hand which must eyther be fouÌ„d in this place or be wholly omitted in this book VVherfore after Rome is overthrown and cut off there shal be a common bruit of this new Christian people at the hearing wherof the Gentiles shal be astonished But what are the Iewes Kings why not seing al Christians are Kings Rev. 1.6 and the fowr and twenty Elders which represente the whole company of the faithful doe all wear crownes chap. 4.4 And this magnificent name doth the Spirit give them because it shal be very honourable after so many ages and so stiff stubbornes of that nation for them to come againe as it were by recovery of law unto the truth and religiously and holily with al observance to honour the same having their incredulous and obstinate harts subdued But besides this the whole East shal obey them that not without cause ar this people caled Kings in respect of their long and large dominion Empire But they seem to be called playnly Kings in Isay 24.21 if we diligently mark the words and meaning of the place And it shal be saith he in that day the Lord wil visit the host of the high in the high place and the Kings of the earth upon the earth And they shal be gathered with a gathering as a prisoner into a pit and shal be closed up in the close-place and after many dayes shal they be visited And the Moon shal be abashed and the Sun ashamed when the Lord of hosts shall reign in mount Sion and in Ierusalem and shal be glorious before his Ancients the Kings of the earth are al one who after are gathered into the pit after many dayes are visited and at whose deliverance the Moon is abashed c. VVhich last words are certenly meant of the ful restoring of the Iewes wherfore the first words intend also the same VVhom God in heavy indignation because they refused his Son did thrust into the pit or dungeon for many ages togither and kept them closed up in a very hard prison But at length after many dayes he will visit these prisoners and bring them out of the gayl for whose ferveÌ„t zele and singular study of true godlines the Churchches of the Gentiles as the Moon Sun shal be abashed at this greater brightnes They ar caled the host of the high in the high because the Iewes were the peculiar people of the high God and of his Church which is heavenly wherupon they ar often caled in Daniel qaddische hheljonin the Saincts of the high Dan. 7.22 c. But this is inough to find out the meaning of this place I may not now stand longer upon it I have handled it the more at large for to give occasion unto our men to mind these things more diligently These Kings come from the East because the greatest multitude of Iewes is in those countries and these first of all shal see the truth and embrace the study of it But thou wilt say The Temple is shut until the seven plagues be fufilled which we shewed to be
things ar passed away all things are become new 2 Cor. 5.17 ¶ For the first heaven and earth were passed away Shal the Church then faile utterly among the Gentiles For heaven noteth out more pure godlinesseâ— as we said even now How this should be abolished it may be doubtfull because of those things which wee have mentioned before As concerning the earth it is not so doubtfull considering that the Spirit hath already taught sufficieÌ„tly that the Pope of Rome with his whole falsely so called Catholique flock shal be rooted out utterly before this day As then touching the reformed Church shal the receiving of the Iewes cause the alienation of the Gentils as before time the casting away of them was the reconciling of the world Rom. 11.15 It may seem so in deed especially considering that the Apostle affirmeth in the same place that a certain fulnesse of the Gentils shal be accomplished as is like at the calling of the Iewes ver 25. but yet notwithstanding in this very chapter the Revelation teacheth otherweise to weet that the Gentils which shal be saved shall walke in the light of it and the Kings of the earth shal bring their glory and honour to the new Ierusalem ver 24. Yea Paul in the place before said plainly avoucheth that the Church shal be very flourishing amoÌ„g the Gentils when the Iewes are called For saith he if the casting away of the Iewes be the reconciling of the world what shall the reconciling be but life from the dead This is as if he should say what shall the receiving be but as it were a general resurrection wherby they that are dead in sinns among all nations comming at length to the truth shal be made partakers of eternall life by faith in Christ From which wee gather that the fulnesse of the GeÌ„tils is not a certaine ende of beleeving at the calling of the Iewes so that faith among the Gentiles afterward should utterly perish eveÌ„ as no more can be powred into a full vessell but a more aboundant accesse of all nations of the earth toward what part soever their countreyes doo extend obeying the Kingdome of Christ according to that saying the Lord shal be King over the whole earth in that day shall ther be one Lord and his name shal be one Zach. 14.9 And the Lord will destroy in this mountaine the figure of this vaile that is spred upon all nations and the cover wherwith all nations are covered he will swallow up death it selfe into victory and the Lord Iehovah shal wipe away the tears from all faces and will take away the reproach of his people out of all the earth Isaiah chap. 25.7.8 For then they that dwell in the wildernesse shall kneele before him and his enemies shall licke the dust The Kings of the Ocean sea and of the Ilands shall bring presents the Kings of Sheba and Seba shall bring gifts Finally all Kings shall worship him and all nations shall serve him Psal 72.9.10.11 How then in this celebrating shall the new heaven passe away that is the more pure Church among the Gentils Must we distinguish concerning the GeÌ„tils wherof some are yet strangers from Christ othersome are named Christians now by the space of many ages as we of Europe first of all Shal they come to the Chuâ—ch as the Prophecies even now alâ—â—adged declare and many others agreeing with them Shal these depart and fall away as the vision seemeth to shew which these words doo set forth The fiâ—st heaven saith he passed away What other heaven is then among 〈◊〉 according to the sense of this Prophecy then among us of Europe for the most part Certainly the promise made to the Chuâ—ch of Philadelphia increaseth the suspition to weet that it should be a pillar in the temple of God never to be cast forth chap. 3 12. Why is this attributed as proper and peculiar to it if all the rest enioy the same benefit alike It seemeth therfore that as once the unfruitfull fig tree was cut up and the ill husbanded vineyard being taken from the old farmers was let out to other Luke 13.6 Mat. 21.41 So the Church now a long time evill entreated among them of Europe doo purpose to trusse up bag and baggage and to forsake them at length who have long since forsaken the purity and love of it What though now it be called heaven the heaven themselves are impure in the eyes of our God Iob. 15 15. And the more in deed at this time our heaven which rather enioyeth such nam in respect of the Popish infernal gulfe thaÌ„ for any heaveÌ„ly clearenesse of his own But that seemeth to be repugnant to this calamity of Europe that after the first resurrection there are a thousand yeeres of reigne with Christ chap. 20.6 that is ther shal be among those nations to whoÌ„ this resurrection hath befallen a continuance of the truth by the space of so many yeeres from the beginning of the restauration therof But wee know that this was proper to our countreyes But it may be answered that perhaps this reigne shal be such as was that of the thousand yeeres before that resurrection when the Divell was bound chap. 20.4 when the Kingdome was of a few elect in whose hart was the love of the onely salvation-bringing truth howsoever the Antichristian impiety savoured better to all the rest of the multitude Certenly other scriptures seeme to leane more this way threatning that al religion shal be so defiled with so many corruptions that fearce any wholesome footstep of it shall remaine entire And who is so ignorant of things that hath not iust causes inough to feare much especially when he seeth the word of God to be despised every where new errours to spring up daily old to be brought back again from hell al godlinesse to be converted into gaine and ambition Many indeed are the arguments that the glory of God wil depart from us shortly as once from the temple at Ierusalem Ezech. 9.3 Vnlesse peradventure some comfort ariseth from hence that this departure of the first heaveÌ„ and earth may be understood not of the utter decay of the truth among the Europeans but of such a renewing among the Iewes in comparison of the excellency wherof whatsoever was excellent before may be said to have passed and vanished away when the light of the moone shal be as the light of the sunne and the light of the Sunne sevenfold as the light of seven dayes the Sunne shall blush when the Lord shall reigne in Sion as wee have heard out of Isaiah or finally unlesse it hath some weight that the Spirit here speaketh so exquisitely not saying the former heaven and former earth were passed away but the first heaven and the first earth as though these words respected not the Gentiles at all but onely the legall worship which rightly one may call the first heaven ordained at the first of God himselfe But the Christian people
playnly to Christians al coverings being removed as on whom the noone Sunne of truth shineth and all things are naked and open And indeed he openeth most significantly in one word that long obscure description in Ezechiel saying that that temple so magnifically gloriously prepared is in truth none at all not as though the Prophet had uttered so many words vainly but to shewe that we must not stick in the bark of the lettre but that the kernell of the Spirit is to be found out Let the Iewes heare neither let them expect a renewed temple as hitherto they doo amisse and obstinately but let them with minds and harts aspire in that right way which shal need no temple Let them look for the omnipotent God and the Lamb to dwel among them in comparison of which glory whatsoever can be built of men shal be vile 23 Neither hath this city any need of the Sunne or Moone For in very deed the Moone shall be ashamed and the very Sunne shall blush when the Lord of hosts shall reigne in mount Sion and Hierusalem and shall be glorious before his auncients Isaiah 24.23 And why may it not be ashamed of her former darkenesse when the light of the Moone shal be as the light of the Sunne and the light of the Sunne seven folde as the light of seven daies Isay 30.23 Which thinges are not spoken to that ende as though there should be no use then of the Scriptures but because all shall so understand Gods will as if they had no need to learne wisdome from books Full saith the Prophet shall this land be of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters covering the chanell of the Sea Isay 11.9 Neither shall they anie more teach everie man his friend and everie man his brother saying know yee the Lord for they shall all know mee from the least of them even to the greatest of them saith the Lord that J doo forgive their inquity and remember their sinne no more Ier. 31.34 From hence let us observ that that Church is most glorious in which the sunne of righteousnesse shineth with most open face covered with no cloudes of ceremonies therfore let them see in how great errour they are whom bring in a pompous shew of ceremonies to procure authority to religion with the people Furthermore let us note to what times Iohn applyeth the sentences of the Prophets that we may know the things are yet to come which we interpret commonly to be past and not onely in the heavenly countrey whose happinesse needeth the words of no man but here in earth in that restoring wherof we have spoken ¶ And the Lambe is the light therof Therfore this light the most bright of all godly times shal not yet be perfit as it shal be after this life but a candle onely in respect of that least peradventure wee should rest in our iourney as if we had come to the last ende 24 And the Gentiles that shal be saved The second outward argument is glory from the Gentils Before time the Iewes have alwayes found the GeÌ„tiles most hatefull who left no meanes unattempted to doo them hurt now contrariweise ther shal be no cause to feare that they will doo them any harme yea rather why should they not expect all good at their hands who shal apply al their forces to the advancing of them But these Gentiles are not al generally but are limited with a certain kinde which saith he shal be saved which word is inserted for an exposition The place is taken out of Isaiah 60.3 where it is thus and the Gentiles shall walke to thy light which Iohn draweth to the elect by putting in of one word least any should think it was spoken of every one generally And see how Iohn traÌ„slate that seÌ„teÌ„ce they shal walke to thy light thus they shal walke in the light of it the senteÌ„ce being well expressed For to walke at the light is not to come only to the light which one may doe depart again by by being at once both seen despised but to walke after or according to the light as to walke at the feete is alone with to follow serve one 1 Sam. 25.42 Neither-hath this place in the heavens that the people should walke at the light of the Church when Prophecyings shal be abolished and tongues shall cease and God shal be all in all 1 Cor. 13.8 and 15.28 But it may be doubtful how it can have place on earth For shal this difference remaine of some people which are saved and of other that are lost in this most happy government of the Church It seemeth indeed that there shal be many which yet still shal contemne the truth obstinately for the day of the Lord shall come cas a share upon all that dwell on the face of the earth Luke 21 35. But the children of the Church are not in darkenesse that that day should take them as a thief in the night 1 Thess 5.4 Moreover it was said before that the haile of a taleâ—t weight of the last vial shall drive men to blasphemy chap. 16.21 Neverthelesse those despisers shal be of so feeble strength that wil they nil the they shal be compelled to yeeld their necks The Complut edition and the Kings bible doo omit these words which are saved and so doth Aretas and the vulgar Latine neither doo they reade in the light of it but by the light ¶ And the Kings of the earth shal bring their glory unto it Then the Kings borderers on the Ocean and of the Yles shall bring a present the Kings of Sheba and Seba shall bring a gift finally all Kings shall worship him and all nations shall serve him Psal 72.10.11 And Isay The labour of Aegypt and marchandize of Aethiopia and of the Sabean Princes shall come unto thee and they shall be thine and shall follow thee they shall come in chaines and shall fall down before thee and shall make supplications unto thee saying onely the strong God is in thee there is none besides no where else is God chap. 45.14 Againe Kings shal be thy nurcing fathers and their Queenes shal be thy nurces they shall worship thee with their faces toward the earth and shall lick the dust of thy feet chap. 49.23 For then shal be given unto Christ a dominion and glory and Kingdome that all people nations and tongues should serve him whose dominion is an everlasting dominion which passeth not away his KingdoÌ„ a KingdoÌ„ which shall not be destroyed Dan. 7.14 It shal not also be from the purpose to add here in what words the Sybille hath described this same thing that at least wee may help tthe Iesuite if he will who in expounding the same is cleane out of the way thus therfore shee Prophecyed in the 3. book of the oracles of Sibyll And then the world by womans hands shall rul'd be and obey But when the widow over all the world